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(NoModeL) N. 0. LANE.

MARKING STAMP. No. 461,116. Patented Oct. 13,1891.

'ATTEST. INVENTOR- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN C. LANE, ()F \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MARKlNG-STAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,116, dated October 13, 1891.

Application filed October 12, 1889. Serial No. 326,811. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHAN 0. LANE, acitizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Marking-hftamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in inking or marking stamps, and is more especially designed to be used for marking envelopes during the process of distributing the same in post-ofiices and upon railway mail-trains.

Heretofore it has been tli e'common practice in the larger post-offices throughout the country to have each envelope marked by a character, sign, or mark of a distinctive color, by each operator during the course of the distribution of the mail in order to designate by whom each particular envelope or card has been distributed. This has usually been done by the operator marking each card before it is inserted in its proper receptacle by a pencil of distinctive color or with an ordinary pencil with which the operator marks a peculiar character. This method obviously consumes much time and proves a source of great annoyance to the operator and at the same time does not always accomplish the end in View, inasmuch as the pencil-marks are easily obliterated in the course of handling the mail. The characters are not always made uniform, and where many operators are em ployed pencils having a sufficient dilference in their colors to render one mark readily distingu ishablefroin another cannot be obtained.

It is the object of my invention to provide means for marking envelopes while in the course of distribution with signs, characters, or symbols, either of uniform or of distinctive colors without adding to the labor of the distributer or operator, whereby much labor and time are saved and the envelopes are marked with such precision and certainty that it may be determined at any time by whom the letter was distributed.

To this end my invention consists in a thimble adapted to be worn upon the thumb and carrying upon its under surface a marking type or character and an inking-roller for inking said type or character, as will more fully hereinafter appear, due reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side view of my improved marker. Fig. 2 is an end View. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 4 isabottom plan View, and Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a modification.

A indicates a thimble, preferably made of metal, butwhich may be constructed of any suitable material and adapted to fit and be worn upon the thumb.

Upon the under side of the thimble is secured by solder or other means a troughshaped segment B, formed upon the arc of a circle and having its upper edges turned inwardly, as shown, in the outer extremity of which is secured a piece of felt or other ink absorbent C, and in the inner extremity of which is fitted a type D, constructed of rubber, metal, or other material and held in position by the i11wardly-turned edges of the segment B.

E indicates a tube or bearing secured by solder or other means to the upper side of the thimble A, and F a shaft freely rotating therein. The tube or bearing E is secured to the thimblc at a point which lies within the center of the circle upon which the segment B is formed.

Rigidly secured to the ends of the shaft F are levers G, which are curved inwardly under the thimble A and perforated at their lower extremities to form bearings for a shaft or spindle H, upon which is mounted an inking-roller I.

To the under side of the thimble A is secured a tube or bearing K, within which rotates a shaft 7c, to each end of which shaft is rigidly secured a curved lever L.

M M indicate levers, one end of each of which is pivoted to one of the levers G at a point slightly below the shaft F, the other endsof said levers M M being pivoted to the curved levers L.

N indicates a coiled spring, the free ends of which engage the curved levers L and swing said levers L about their pivot away from the thimble A.

The thimble A is provided with a strap 0,

relaxed the parts resume the position shown preferably elastic, which is designed to be passed and cross about the wrist, and thus firmly hold the device upon the thumb.

' The operation of the device is as follows: The thimble having been properly adjusted upon the thumb, the package of envelopes or papers designed to be stamped are taken in the hand between the fingers and thumb, the free ends of the curved levers L resting upon the uppermost one of the package. By exerting a slight pressure with the thumb the levers L are forced up toward the thimble, and by means of the levers M M swing the levers G, carrying the inking-roller around their pivot, thus causing-said roller to swing fromunder the type and rotate in contact with the inking-pad to obtain a fresh supply of ink, and at the same time the type descends upon the uppermost one of the package of envelopes and imprints its mark there- Upon the pressure of the thumb being in the drawings.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings I have illustrated a modification wherein the thimble, the type, the ink-pad,and the curved levers L are constructed as above described. Near the outer extremities of the curved levers L are pivoted levers P, in theother ends of which levers are journaled the axesof the inkingroller I, springs 19 being secured to the levers L and P at their pivotal points in such manner as to exert a force to swing the inkingroller under the type. The levers L are provided at their inner extremities with lugs Z, which engage stop-pins Z, secured to the thimble in suchmanner that normally the motion of the inking-roller will be arrested .just at the moment it has finished traversing worn upon the thumb and having mounted thereon both a marking and an inking device, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In a marking-stamp, the combination, with a thimble adapted to be worn upon the thumb, of a type and an ink-reservoir secured to said thimble, an inking-roller traversing both the type and the ink-reservoir, and means, such substantially as described, for normally holding the inking-roller in position upon the type and causing said roller to traverse the ink-reservoir when pressure is applied to the stamp by the thumb, for the purpose specified.

3. In a marking-stamp, the combination, with a thimble adapted to be worn upon the thumb and carrying upon its under side a type and an inking-pad, of curved levers pivoted to the thimble and normally adapted to rest upon the article to be stamped, and an. inking-roller journaled in pivoted levers connected with the curved levers and operated by the depression of said curved levers to cause the inking-roller to travel over the type and the inkingpad, substantially as described.

4.. In a marking-stamp, the combination, with a thimble adapted to be worn upon the thumb and carrying upon its under side a type and an inking-pad, of an inking-roller journaled in levers pivotally connected with said thimble and caused to travel over the type and inking-pad when pressure is applied by the thumb, and a spring or springs for returning said roller to its position under the type when the pressure of the thumb is relaxed, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a marking-stamp, the combination of the thimble carrying upon its under side a type and an inking-pad, the levers G, pivoted to the thimble and having journaled in their free ends an inking-roller, the curved levers L, pivoted to the thimble and connected to the levers G by levers M, and a spring N, operating to force the levers L downwardly, sub

stantially as shown and described.

. In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto affixed my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 12th day of October, A.

NATHAN 0. LANE. Witnesses:

T. F. SHRYOCK, VINTON CooMBs. 

